Charging rampant irregularities in the distribution of Chief Minster’s relief fund, AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary A Anbazhagan demanded a probe into the misuse of fund, two thirds of which, he claimed, was disbursed to people belonging to Indira Nagar and Kadirgamam constituencies.
Talking to reporters here on Saturday, he said ineligible persons, including some government officials, were given Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 from the CM’s relief fund. He charged that chief minister N Rangasamy had bypassed the committee headed by state chief secretary, responsible for monitoring the fund, and distributed the fund among his party followers in his earlier constituency (Thattanchavady, which has now been bifurcated).
Saying that “It’s not his (CM’s) private fund but people’s money,” the AIADMK leader questioned as to how the chief secretary, who was supposed to monitor it, could allow such reckless distribution of funds.
He further claimed that the Chief Minister’ s office had not revealed details about the money credited by businessmen, industrialists etc to the fund in the aftermath of Cyclone Thane.
Anbazhagan alleged that 90 people were appointed in the Puducherry cooperative dairy (Ponlait), for the period of January1,2011 to October 2012. He charged that these appointments in Ponlait, which suffered a loss of Rs 10 crore, were made by breaking rules and overlooking the employment exchange.
Welcoming the transport department’s move to fix meters in autorickshaws, Anbazhagan said government should form a welfare board for the auto workers and consider supplying diesel at a subsidized rate as in the case of fishermen.
Asked about the Opposition leader and former Congress chief minister V Vaithilingam’ s recent statement on obtaining statehood for Puducherry, he said Congress was playing double game in this regard.
He said Congress did not take any steps to get the statehood while the party was in rule, both in the centre as well as in Puducherry.
He slammed union minister V Narayanasamy for not taking up the statehood demand with the government.
Anbazhagan also remarked that chief minister Rangasamy does not have any intention of holding local body elections in the Union Territory.